What We're All About

I'm cheating a little bit today.  This might be familiar if you've been reading since we started, or if you browse the oldest posts here.  I was feeling the need to re-post some of the first real post we had here.  To repeat and reintroduce the ideas of what M28 is all about.

It's about living the Great Commission.  In our everyday lives.


The Commission

There is a physicality and movement to the command “go.”  There is nothing sedentary about it.  The command is simple.  Matthew 28:18-20  (NASB)

"And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Go.  Make.  Baptize.  Teach.

Verbs.  Actions.  Jesus’ last words to his disciples, his students, were a call to action.  Some were still struggling with belief of what had happened after his death.  Yet he tells them to go out.  They have believed, in faith.  Now they were to teach, in faith.

I’ve heard it said that the best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else.

Jesus’ students are told to go into the rest of the world and told to; wash, rinse, repeat.

Step 1:

Go, move, leave where you are to be somewhere else.  Next door, or around the world.

Step 2:

Make students.  People who will grasp things that are separate.  Like Sin and Grace.

Step 3:

Baptize them in the name of God:  The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Step 4:

Teach them to obey, follow, adhere to, the commands Jesus gave.  Including, Go.

Step 5:

Repeat.  Because 11 people didn’t make disciples of all nations on the first go.

This isn’t meant to be a formula or code to follow.  I’m just breaking down the verbs of the Commission. 

Discipleship

Discipleship is not a 3 week class held on Sunday mornings for 30 to 45 minutes.  It’s not a book with a clever plan on “how to.”  As a disciple of Jesus we never stop learning or growing.  There is no graduation or achievement levels.  There is no standardized testing, with multiple choice and No. 2 pencils.

Discipleship is a way of living.  It is continual learning and growing in our relationship with Jesus, and others whether they share the same faith or not.

There are many books and teachings about how to disciple.  I won’t really recommend one over another partially because I haven’t read enough of them to offer opinions on the methods.

What I will tell you is this, discipleship is both simple and complex.  The way to do discipleship can be very simple and uncomplicated.  But there will be complex conversations and questions.  And the very nature of what is being taught is complicated.

Jesus was our example of how to teach disciples.  He pulled it off with out a single youtube video, powerpoint presentation, sporting arena, or even a megaphone.  He taught from his heart what he knew the Father wanted us to know.  It’s all laid out for us in scripture.

Making a disciple requires very few physical things.  A teacher, a student and a Bible.  It can be that simple.  There also needs to be a desire to learn and grow in both parties, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.  It’s the Spirit that makes the growth happen.  It’s the Spirit that opens up the complexities and mysteries of the Word to the hearts of both teacher and student.

Teach the Word.  Not traditions.  As one teaching, you must be as deep or deeper in the Word than the one being taught.  Dive in.  Breathe deep the fragrance of life that springs from it’s pages.  Teach others to be like Jesus by living the way Jesus lived.

You must first be a disciple if you want to make a disciple.

To be a disciple of Jesus is to take hold of the grace and promises of God and join them to what is separate from them, our sinful nature, our hearts, minds and souls.  This is only possible because of what Jesus accomplished for us through his death and resurrection.

Jesus didn’t wait for humanity to come to Heaven.  He left everything he was took on the pain and suffering of being human so he could be with us.  He wanted to be with us so he could teach us how to live, and love, and serve the Father.

He came to us.

And so those who follow him, must also go, make, baptize, teach…repeat.


grace, peace + hope
-Jesse

Rhythm: Part 1 - Heartbeat

There is a lot of discord in the world today.  Just look at the news.  If you're like me you don't even have to look that far.  You can just look at your own life.  I know mine is full of ups and downs that are primarily of my own making.

Mainly because I loose my rhythm.

Not that I am a musical person at all.  It takes all my effort to keep clapping at the right time.  But I'm talking about internally.  The thing that moves me as a person and as a disciple of Jesus.

My heartbeat.

Rather, the heartbeat of Jesus.  Does my heart beat for the same things as his?  Sometimes.  Hence, discord.  That can apply individually, and to the church at large.  Sometimes we focus on the wrong things.  How big or small something is.  How things or people are dressed.  The things that don't matter.  Before we get into all that, let's look at some heart facts:

-The heart is a muscle, a pump.  It moves blood throughout your body to give oxygen and nutrients to the millions of cells that make us...us.

-The heart never rests.  From the moment it starts beating until the moment you die, it never stops.

-Did you know that a heart "at rest" works twice as hard as leg muscles in someone who is sprinting.

-The average Human heart beat is 70 bpm and weights a little less than a pound

-A dog: 60-160 bpm

-A cat: 110-240 bpm

-A mouse: 500-600bpm

-An elephant: 30bpm weighs about 40-60 lbs

-A blue whale: 9 bpm and weighs half a ton, 1,000 lbs

Okay, what does that have to do with anything?  Well, I'm getting there.  Take a moment and feel your heart beat.  Put your hand on your chest and feel that muscle work.  Heartbeat.  It's the sound that lets us know we're still alive.  It slows down when we're calm, and races when we are afraid or excited.  But there is a different kind of heartbeat.  Not the actual muscle heartbeat, but the heartbeat of our spirit.  The driving force to how we act and respond to things.

Go read the account of Mary being told she will become the mother of Jesus.  Here's a link: Luke 1:26-38.

The thing I love about all this is Mary's response.  "May it be to me as you have said."  She believed.  She took the messenger of the Lord at his word and believed.  And she obeyed.  Then she goes to her cousins house.  And do you know what happened next?

She worships.  She sings this song glorifying God.  It gets pretty intense too.  It's not just this sweet little happy song.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

What does your heartbeat sing?  Take some time over the next few days and be still.  Put your hand on your heart and listen.  Listen to what your soul wants to sing about God, about Jesus.  What he has done.  Let that heartbeat set a rhythm in your spirit.

        Love God.
                Love neighbors.
                        Act justly.
                                Love mercy.

grace, peace + hope
-Jesse

Every. Single. Day.

Can I be completely honest with you?

Yes?  Thanks.  Here goes...

I'm tired. Tired of the struggles of this life.  Primarily the one I fight with myself.  It's been a rough couple months internally.  I've been fighting the desires of my flesh, those needy selfish pointless things that result in nothing good.

I get angry with myself, and it just spirals and becomes a vicious circle.  Sound familiar to anyone?  I catch myself getting grumpier and more irritable.  Quickly I become very self-centered and avoid any challenge to that concept.  I stew.  And I close my ears.

And I don't listen for God to speak to me.  To remind me of things I know in my heart.

Then, like yesterday, there will be a break in the internal storm, and the light will shine through.  And humble me to my knees.  That break can take many forms.  A word from a friend, a song, a view of the mountains...and I hear what God has been constantly saying through the whole bit of self chaos.

"Get over yourself.  Love your God with all your heart.  And your neighbor.  Every.  Single.  Day."

Anyone else?  You get so caught up in daily life, yourself, your family, and you loose sight of God.  But he wants us to put him first every day.  Not Sunday.  Not Wednesday night, or when ever your group meets.  Not when you feel like it, not when you want to.

Every.  Single.  Day.

This is not me making things up.  This is straight from the mouth of Jesus.  Look up Luke 9.

Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?

 This is something I'm saying as much to myself as I am anyone else.  Being a follower of Jesus, a student, a disciple of his, means to deny yourself daily.  This isn't meant to be some directive to punish yourself or anything like that.  It is, simply put, shifting the focus of your life from yourself to Jesus.

Easier said than done.  Trust me I know.  But this is me, and M28, encouraging you to do just that.  There is no secret.  No formula on how to do this.  All I can suggest is what has worked for me in the past, and what I'm implementing moving forward.  Spend time with Jesus.  Pray.  Read the Word.  Meditate on the scriptures.  Or find what draws you to him.

Another thing is do follow the commands he gave us.  Three huge ones are:
        1)  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and all your mind and with all your strength.
        2)  Love your neighbor as yourself.
        3)  Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

That pretty much takes care of everyone on the planet.  The last two are fairly easy to figure out.  But how do you show love to God?  I know I reference this scripture often on this blog, but it seems that important to be repeated.  Matthew 25:

‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

and

The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

 This isn't stuff you need credentials for.  You don't even need a high school diploma for this stuff.  Feed the hungry.  Give drink to the thirsty.  Welcome strangers.  Clothe those without.  Care for the sick.  Visit those in prison.  There are people in need all around you.  Maybe on your block or in your apartment building.  Maybe it will take a bit of a drive.  But they are there.  Waiting.  Waiting for you.  Waiting for Jesus.

Every.  Single.  Day.

I say all these things because I need to hear them.  And because I want to challenge and encourage you as well.  You don't need dynamite or a backhoe to move mountains and tear down walls.  Try a smile.  Patience.  Kindness.  Put others before yourself.  Family.  Friends.  Strangers.  See what happens.

Do it today.  Do it now.

grace, peace & hope
-Jesse

Do You Believe in Jesus? Part II

"Reflections from Recovery" written by "Sam"


Being a human I always want more proof, scientific proof that Jesus was here and he

existed.  I can't see the wind but it makes me cold when I smoke.  I can't see my brain but I know it is there and sometimes it's working.  I read countless books on the subject of Jesus.  He fascinates me.  The Bible prophecies that were written hundreds of years before Jesus was born, came true.  Our whole calendar is based on one man's life.  BC- before Christ and AD-Anno Domini (not after death, Jesus died around 30 to 33 ad) translated - In the year of the Lord.  What influence.

10 of the 12 disciples were crucified or stoned or executed for there belief as well.  Why would they do that?  I look at people who are living a Christian life then and now and that helps me believe.

The tact for me is it’s not a matter of further evidence. I have all the evidence I need.  It's a matter of the heart. Do I want to trust God and humbly receive the gifts he offers, or do I insist on proving myself good enough and doing it my way?

I also came to this conclusion.  I didn't half step my drinking or drugging.  I was all in or I wasn't.  So, I'm not going to be half a Christian either.

When I read the Bible, the thing that stands out to me is when Jesus shows his human side the most because I can relate to it.  I can't relate to turning water into wine or raising people from the dead or healing the blind.  But I can relate when He is tempted by the devil in the wilderness.  Or, like when he cries out to God in John Chapter 12, “My soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray Father, save me from this hour but this is the very reason I came. Father bring glory to your name.”  I have felt a similar anguish though for different reasons.

If you don't agree with anything I said - that's ok - nobody gets God by having a Bible crammed down there throat.

In my first month here I probably never even really mentioned the name JESUS besides in prayer. I found that if I just believe and act upon that belief that my spirituality grows.

I know for me it was hard to sing Christian songs out loud at first because I guess I wanted people to think that I'm tough which is funny because everyone knows I'm soft.

All I'm saying here is open your mind and try something different.

Believe it or not - this works.  Really, what do you have to lose?



grace, peace + hope-Jesse

Do You Believe in Jesus?

Reflections from Recovery
-written by "Sam"

"Do You Believe in Jesus" Part I

This devotion is from my perspective and my experience.  It is based on a devotion I did at a Christian based recovery program at a Salvation Army Rehab Center.  My job was not to preach but to inspire others to go deeper in their recovery and identify that higher power.  Here are my words of encouragement.

When we first come into the program, it's hard even to believe in God or that AA/NA can help us. If we did believe God, we cursed him for the life we were given. Life wasn't fair. It's hard to do what the 12 step programs teach us - meeting makers make it, call your sponsor, get a support network. Let Go and Let God.

With all of this AA/NA and Higher Power stuff thrown at us, we come in here and they throw another element into our already complicated recovery: JESUS.

We come to a rehab like no other that I've been in and a whole other program is

introduced to us - The program is part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

From my own experience -I believe in God and some of the bible. But why is it so hard to make a small step from believing in God to believing in Jesus as well.

I remember I was out at the smoke shack and it was just me and another resident.  I wanted to ask him, “Do you believe in Jesus?”

A part of me stopped and said, "No Sam don't open up that can of worms"

Why is it so hard for me to talk about it?   We are in a Christian rehab.  Is it because I made fun of Christians growing up?  Is it because Jesus is specific, he was human but had the power of God in Him.  Is that so unusual?  I guess so. 

Asking someone if they believe in Jesus is like asking them what color underwear they have on.  It is odd.

God is vast, super-natural. The Creator of all things.

When I was having trouble believing in this whole thing, I told my counselor that I am 80% of the way there. He told me when you pray.  Do YOU pray to 80% of God?  Well, no.  When God answers a prayer, is it 80%?
Well, no.

-to be continued tomorrow-

grace, peace + hope

-Jesse

You have to get rid of that "I"

Written by "Sam" - 10/25

I was having a one on one session with a Christian who I look up to.  I was explaining how I got discouraged because I was at a spiritual retreat up in the mountains, and I thought all of a sudden, I'm gonna feel some type of way and grow immensely in Christianity overnight - or feel the lightning bolts. 

This is not how this works. 

Change is a constant slow process (at least for me).  But I looked at how far I've come.  7 months ago I never picked up a Bible or wanted to.   I didn't put Christian songs on a CD, mention Jesus in prayer, usually I just prayed for God to get me out of this mess or for the light to turn green.

I have come along way in this time and I don't give myself enough credit.

He stopped me there and said, "You have to get rid of that 'I' and give all the credit to Jesus."

I replied in my mind, "Your telling me after 12 years of hurting people, being selfish, lying etc.  that now I'm finally doing good and I can't take any of the credit!"

-That is the end of his entry.  And I love it.

I know I've been in a similar place, at least as far as the taking credit part.  I love his honesty, and the wisdom of the one he was meeting with to call that out.  This is one example of what discipleship and living our lives with people that M28 is all about.

It's easy to replace what Jesus does in our lives with ourselves.  But we would never get close to him if he hadn't already come all the way to us.

grace, peace + hope
-Jesse

Struck, but not Shaken

Living where I do in PA, there is a lot of people worried about the approach of this so-called, "Frankenstorm."  I almost feel cheesy using it as a reference here, but it's what led me to think and read on what I'm about share.

A house built on a firm foundation doesn't fear the flood waters.

Look at these passages out of Luke 6

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers.  The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?  I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.  He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.  But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

It doesn't say the flood waters missed the house, or that the house was not affected by the torrent.  It simply says that the house was struck, but not shaken.

How's your foundation today?  Dig down deep.  Build it on the rock.

grace, peace + hope
-Jesse

The Story Has to End with Victory

Written 5/19/12 by "Sam"

I took a hot shower and washed my county prison uniform with a bar of soap and an empty trash can.  I laid down to and started to dream of my future, looking up at the ceiling with my hands behind my head.  I had an inner peace, that is unusual in a dorm-like cell, crowded with seven other convicts.  One was serving 25 years for attempted homicide.

The peace came from above, and I started thinking to myself that I can do, and get through, everything.  Everything that happened in my past, prepared and lead me to this exact time and the story has to end with victory.

I had to be beaten up so badly from drugs, alcohol, sin and failure to reach such a bottom, where I had to rely not on my selfish ways, but belief that Jesus died for my sins.  God forgives me and has a purpose for my life.  I feel the enemy is waiting for me, doing push-ups and checking ammo.

When I leave this prison, I will have to be more prepared, especially with my higher power.

Romans 8:28 - "We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them."

I now have a purpose and it is to simply live by spiritual principles and help others.

A Danish proverb:  What you are is God's gift to you.  What you do with yourself is your gift to God.


*minor edits made for anonymity

Location. Location. Location.

What is Jesus telling us in his conversation with the woman at the well?

There are a lot things to be discussed and said about this portion of scripture, found in John 4.  Read for yourself below, and then I'll share my thoughts.

“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet.  Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”

Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.  You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.  Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

Deep stuff right?

Now I can't break down all the original language and things, but I believe the main idea translates.  What I read here is that location doesn't matter.  She is discussing a mountain that her people have worshiped at for generations.  While the Jews worship at the temple in  Jerusalem.

Jesus says there will be a time, and it's here now, when you won't worship on the mountain or in Jerusalem. 

What does that mean for us?

I mean, I've never been to Jerusalem, or this mountain.  But I have worshiped God.  So, if it's not in either of these once ascribed holy places...where is it?  Jesus says God will be worshiped in spirit and truth.  Because these are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

So he seeks those who worship in spirit and truth.  How do we do that?  Well, this isn't a step by step.  You have to work out your own faith.  However the Church, the body of believes, can help encourage and challenge each other on in their faith.

So let me offer this simple challenge:  follow where the Spirit leads.

Imagine you've been praying for a co-worker.  Is that all you do for them?  Or do you open your heart, your ears, and listen to them.  See what they are and are not saying.  Pay attention and learn to discern.  God will guide you.

Let him.

Worshiping God is spirit and truth is not restricted to sacred music and cathedrals.  Worshiping can happen in a club to rock music, if a person's spirit is open to God.  It can happen in the middle of a forest, an office cubicle, or executive board room.  It can happen on the dock of a grocery store, the parking lot of a movie theater, or a tattoo parlor under neon lights.

Be open to the Spirit moving in your life.  It won't always be a miraculous sign.  It can be in a smile.  A kind word or time spent with someone hurting.  Discipleship isn't about scoring conversions.  It's about teaching others to be like Jesus.  I think the best teaching is observed, not heard.

So keep your heart and mind open for the Spirit to move in you!  Look for the little things, the compassionate things, and just serve God with all your heart, soul and strength.  He'll fill in the rest.

grace, peace + hope
-Jesse

You Don't Fix Faith

If you've been reading these posts, one thing you know about me is that I am a huge movie/tv fan.  Mainly for the stories and characters and what they can teach us.  One of my all time favorite shows is Firefly, which was canceled after the first season, but managed to get enough fan support that a feature length movie was made out of it.

That never happens.

At least had not happened before that.  A show that the network canceled, after poor promotion, horrible time slot, and was aired out of sequence and not even all the episodes saw the air.  So with a track record like that, why on earth would a major studio shell out millions to make a movie?

Faith.

Someone had faith in the writer, the actors, all the crew, and the fans.  (The writer/director is a certain Joss Whedon, who now is becoming a household name instead of just a geekdom known name, thanks to the success of the Avengers.)

If you're wondering what in the world this has to do with being a follower of Christ...I'm getting there.  One of the best scenes from the show involves a young girl named River who was tested on by the government, but was already beyond genius intelligence.  She is very logical and scientific.  Kind of like Spock, but with no filter.  She was kinda crazy.  The other character in the scene is a man named Book.  He is a "shepherd," in the world of this story he's a missionary of sorts.  A man of faith.

The scene plays out when Book walks into the dinning room and begins speaking to River.  He isn't looking at her so he doesn't see her leaning over a book at the table.

Book: What are we up to, sweetheart?

River Tam: Fixing your Bible.

Book: I, um...[alarmed]  What?

River Tam: Bible's broken. Contradictions, false logistics - doesn't make sense.
[she's marked up the bible, crossed out passages and torn out pages]

Book: No, no. You-you-you can't...

(next portion skipped for time...feel free to read it all or watch the episode: Jaynestown.)

Book: River, you don't fix the Bible.

River: It's broken. It doesn't make sense.

Book: It's not about making sense. It's about believing in something, and letting that belief be real enough to change your life. It's about faith. You don't fix faith, River. It fixes you.

This isn't about River tearing up a Bible.  I was shocked a bit when I saw it the first time.  But the way the rest of that conversation play out just took my breath away.  Now, I believe without a doubt that the Bible is the Word of God and is true.

What really gets me is how Book responds.  Instead of getting all angry he remains calm, and deals with grace, wisdom and discernment.   "You don't fix faith, it fixes you."

Jesus sent his disciples out to make more disciples.  Not to debate with people until they convert.  Faith isn't an argument to win.  We can share it, show it, live it.  When was the last time you won someone over to the love of Jesus by arguing Creation vs. Evolution?  I know I haven't.

Faith isn't just a program to install.  It's not about 'knowing,' or having empirical evidence.  That's why it is called faith.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Hebrews 11 is commonly called the "Faith Chapter."  It describes stories and people who were known for their faith.  Able.  Enoch.  Noah.  Abraham.  Isaac.  Jacob.  Joseph.  Moses.  Rahab.  The writer of Hebrews lists more that they don't have the time to describe.

They also write this:  By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.  It is by faith we understand this.  By faith we understand the sacrifice that Jesus made, and who he is.

It's faith that allows us to believe in Jesus.  Faith is what fixes us.  You have to let it in.  As you let it transform you, let Him transform you, you'll be able to share that with others.  And seeing your faith, can learn what faith is, and eventually have faith themselves.

You can't fix faith.  It doesn't need fixed.  Read those stories mentioned in Hebrews 11.  Learn about what faith fixed in them, and how it can fix you...and let it.

grace, peace + hope
-Jesse

Fill 'er Up

In John 10, Jesus compares himself to the gate of a sheep pen, and to the shepherd.  He says that he is the only way to truly enter the pen and that the sheep will only follow their true shepherd.  In the middle of these comparisons he mentions that all others who came into the pen before him (not as sheep) were thieves and robbers.

He says the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  They didn't come into the pen through the gate (through Jesus.)  They are there to do harm.  Jesus says, "But I come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly...(or to the full.)

Um...yes please!

I'd like some life to the full.

Especially if Jesus is the one giving it.  He didn't come to take life away from us.  To tie us down with laborious rules and dogmas.

He makes many comparisons of who he is.  The Bread of Life, Fountain of Living Water, The Shepherd, The Gate, The Way, The Truth, The Life.  The Light of the World.  The Vine.


He is the bread that feeds us.

The water that quenches us.

The shepherd who cares for us.

The gate that protects us.

The way that guides us.

The truth that frees us.

The life that fills us.

The light that reveals us.

The vine that sustains us.


Yes.  I'll have some of that.  All of that.  He must increase, we must decrease.  Let Jesus fill your life, so that you may live abundantly...fully.  Because if He feeds us...we can feed others.  If he cares for us...we can care for others.  I think you can follow that train.

Let him do those things in you, so you don't have to worry about those things for yourself.  You can give it to others.  It is what he wants from us.  Love him with everything.  Love our neighbors.  Give out what he has filled you with.


grace, peace + hope
-Jesse

No More

One of my favorite stories about Jesus is the one where those meddlesome scribes and Pharisees bring him the woman caught in adultery.  Found in John 8:1-11.

Jesus is in Jerusalem, teaching in different places.  Everyone is going to listen to him.  The Pharisees and their ilk were upset with this.  Right before this story takes place, they had sent guards to bring him in.  The guards were so blown away by what Jesus said that they couldn't do it.  It almost feels like a, "These aren't the droids you're looking for," type moment.

Then one of their own a guy named Nicodemus points out that their custom is to hear out people before judging them.  The others start insulting him by saying, "Are you from Galilee too?!"  I kinda get the feeling that Nazareth and the Galilean area was kinda like the "Jersey Shore" of Israel in the day.  I mean even Nathanael (one of the disciples) says, "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?"

But I'm getting of topic.  Sticking to form, the Pharisees try to trip Jesus up in some theological-legalistic trap.  While Jesus is teaching in the temple they bring a woman "caught" in adultery before him.  I'm not an expert in the law, but the fact that they bring her into the temple like that seems kinda fishy...but I digress.

They flaunt the Law at Jesus.  "Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women (those caught in adultery.) So what do you say?"  I can almost hear them being sarcastic with that last bit.  You've got to love what Jesus does next.  He bends down and starts writing in the ground.  When he seemingly didn't hear them, they just keep barking about it.  Eventually he stands up and say, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her."  And he goes back to his writing in the ground.

The movie The Passion of the Christ portrays this very simply and with out the dialogue.  At this point of the story it shows the Pharisees dropping stones and walking away.  In the extreme foreground you see Jesus' sandaled foot as his thumb traces across the ground in slo-mo.  Then we see the woman's trembling hand reach out toward him.  It's very moving and powerful.

John's gospel wraps it up like this.  After Jesus goes back to writing in the sand the second time, the Pharisees all begin to leave, starting with the older ones.  Soon "Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him."  I don't know why, but I like that she is standing.  I get the feeling she might have been a little proud or haughty, and was not weeping and trembling on the ground.  But that is just me.  Jesus says to her, "Woman, where are they?  Has no one condemned you?"  She replies, "No one, Lord."  See right there, she knew something was different about him.  If she didn't when she came in, she did then.  The Pharisees called him "teacher," she calls him "Lord."

The best part of this story happens now.  I kind of get the feeling that she is still standing looking at Jesus, who is still writing on the ground.  He says to her, making eye contact for the first time, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."

Sin no more.

Not, "When you sin ask for forgiveness," or "Try your best, when you mess up come and see me."  No he says; go and sin no more.  I don't condemn you.  Go.  Stop it.

It is an incredible gift.  It is the same gift he gave to each and every single one of us.  We just have to choose to accept it.  And get this, it's not a gift that he take back from us anytime we sin after that.  It's not a game.  For most of my life I played that game.  It wasn't until recently that I realized I was playing by myself.  Jesus wasn't passing my forgiveness back and forth like a game of catch.

Go, and from now on don't sin anymore.  Stop it.  He took away the sins of the world.  So let them be taken away.  Stop grabbing them again and again.

Just go, and from now on sin no more.  He believes in us.  He believes in you!

Sin.  No.  More.

grace, peace + hope
-Jesse

He Leads Me

Recently, during a devotional time, someone read through Psalm 23 and asked us to grasp hold of one thought.  Take a moment and read through it on your own.  (From the NASB version.)

The LORD is my shepherd,
         I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life,And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

There is a lot to grab hold of there.  It is one of those scriptures that we memorize early on and easy to dismiss as childish.  At least I have.  Maybe not intentionally.  But I also keep forgetting that "the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these (children.)"  Matthew 19:14

But that is a post for another day.  In Psalm 23 there is much depth and simplicity.  The thought that grabbed me this time was, "He leads me..."

Jesus does lead me.  He leads all of us.  My problem is, I try to lead myself a lot of times.  Stuff has to make sense.  I have to have a plan.  Data to be quantified and discussed and goals to achieve.  I've been doing this for the better part of 15+ years.

And most of "my plans" have done anything but get me where I want to be.  If anything I've gotten in my own way more often than not, and have all but stonewalled myself from getting to where I believe God wants me to be.

I've seen this first hand with sheep.  On my first trip to Africa I witnessed the sheep of the orphanage (and I mean literal sheep here) get out of their enclosure many times.  And almost every time I charged off to try and guide them back.  Now this comparison would work better if I had been their actual shepherd and they trusted me...but my goal was to get them back to safety.

Somewhere in their brains I think that is what they wanted, but they just kind of "go."  The one in front sets the pace, and the rest just follow.  But they were not doing what I wanted them to do.  They took a much longer, winding, pointless path to get back to their pen.  It would be 30-40 minutes before I got them back to their pen.  And of course they would charge into it like that was their goal all along.

And I'm the sheep.  Jesus is there guiding me where to go, but I'm wandering around...checking out this stick.  Investigating that shrub.  Running from the plastic bag that surely wants to attack me.

If I would just get out of my way, and listen to Jesus...I could end up where he wants me, how and when he wants me there.

So today, be encouraged to let Jesus lead you.  He has a better vantage point, and knows the land much better than we do.  Trust him.

It will not be danger free.  As the Psalm says, he will prepare a table in the presence of your enemies, and take you through the valley of the shadow of death...fear no evil, for he is with you.

I'm reminded of that bumper sticker, "God is my Co-Pilot."  While it's clever and funny for a car, it's the wrong concept to apply to living life.

Follow him.  Let Jesus lead you, and you will get to where he wants you to go.  And along the way, you'll realize that is exactly where you want to be.



grace, peace + hope
-Jesse

Bad Romance

No, I'm not advocating for Lady Gaga.  But that is what I've often found myself in regarding my walk with Jesus. 

Yeah, I just went there.

I've heard it said (and said it many times myself) that it's not about religion, it is about a relationship with Jesus.  And I believe that with all my heart.  It's easy to apply the concept of a dating romance to our relationship with Jesus.

It is super exciting at first.  All praise services and alter calls.  Tears and joy and excitement.  Then it progresses into the deeper stuff.  Worship CD's or playlists.  Dim lights, maybe candles.  Quite time set aside just for that special someone.

Eventually the newness wears off.  The excitement isn't there.  God just isn't moving in me the way he used to (cause it's never my fault!)  The special music just doesn't work anymore.  Gone are the candles and dim lights.  We really don't spend time together like we used to.  Reality sets in.

It's bad romance.

I mean think about it.  In a dating/marriage situation, if you only show your love in settings like that, settings geared to produce those emotions...what do you do the rest of the time?  Do you not love that person when you're not at the candle lit dinner for two?  Do you not desire to be around them when the excitement and newness wears off?

Of course not!  (Hopefully!)

I don't know about you, but that is often how my walk with Jesus goes.  I get all pumped and excited after some event (and I'm not criticizing events here!) but it fades.  Normal, every day life gets in the way.  I'm afraid to let Jesus see me with my make up off (allegorically speaking.)

No.  The real love stories are the ones that come from couples that are celebrating 60+ years of marriage.  I got to video tape a party for such a couple last Autumn.  It was incredible.  All the people that were friends because of these two people.  Even now, this very post exists because of them.  63 years of marriage.  I asked them what the secret was.  The husband looked at me and said without hesitation,

"You make your choice, and you stick to it."

While that might not sound romantic, his bride smiled and nodded.

Every day life is the biggest obstacle in any relationship.  It really is in our walk with Jesus, because not only do we have that, but we have an enemy who doesn't want us to progress in that relationship.  So he will do anything he can to distract us from even wanting to be with Jesus.  The best way to kill a relationship is to turn it into a boring routine.

But Jesus didn't asked to be romanced by us.  He doesn't want the mood music, special lighting, gifts and 'quiet times.'  Let me rephrase that, he doesn't just want the mood music etc. 

He wants it all.

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

-Jesus (Luke 10:27)

 Don't just give God bits and pieces of your heart, soul, strength and mind.  Love him with ALL of it!  Turn that bad romance into the love story of the ages!  Show your love in all things to all people.  Remember what Jesus says in Matthew 25:31-46 about feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, bringing a drink to the thirsty, visiting those in prison...anything we do for the least of these, we do for him.

Give him everything you've got.

grace, peace + hope
-Jesse

For the Trees (a poem)

Here is something a little different today.  A poem I wrote a while back.  Enjoy!

"For the Trees"

looking to the East I see a tree
it stands alone, magnificent
I stare and wonder at it's glory
I begin to journey toward it
focused and sure of my way

all along the path
I marvel to God at the splendor
and beauty of this tree
long weeks pass ere I reach the shade
beneath it's expansive branches

"God!" I cry, "Let me be a part of this!
Let me stay here and care for this tree.
Surely you pointed me to this place."

God sighs and points, "Look, there."
I follow his finger as it points back to the tree.
I examine the texture of it's bark, the complexity of it's leaves

"That is what I'm looking at!
God, this gift, it is beyond my understanding.
Let me stay here and learn."

Again God sighs.
He looks at me, as only a father can,
when their children doesn't understand.
He takes me by the shoulder,
guides me just past the tree and says,
"No.  Look at that."

I follow his outstretched arm
and see
just beyond the tree

before me, a massive sprawl of mountains
and leagues of forests full of beautiful trees
my mind struggles to comprehend all that I see
the hues and shapes of his design

how did I miss all this!?

how did I journey for so long
and not see this vast ocean before me

I look up to my Father
He smiles
"Go," he whispers softly
and he gently pushes me toward my future

(January 6th, 2011)

// Messy Discipleship

The following blog was written by Jake Chambers http://www.gospelcentereddiscipleship.com/messy-discipleship/  

Jake's message is exactly what M28Ministry  http://m28.us/   is all about:  partnering with Jesus in extending the same grace he has given us to those around us.  Thanks Jake!

In our house, we used to have a beautiful set of drinking glasses that were made of translucent artsy green glass. Notice I said we “used to”…

A few weeks ago our house was full of the life, laughter, and mess of sharing our home and table with our community; after everyone left and my wife and I were cleaning up, we noticed one of our beautiful green glasses had a huge chip off the top. We now officially have only three of these nice glasses. They’ve moved from the threatened dishes list to the full-fledged endangered dishes list. I don’t have much hope for their survival either as they have yet to breed.

Just the other day a neighbor broke another one of our glasses, and as I was cleaning up the glittery shards, it hit me - if you have a complete set of dishes you just might not be on mission.

God’s mission is messy and costly. Think about it. In order for us to be a part of God’s family, to be his disciples, to get to live in eternity with him in his home, it cost him his comfort to the point of a dirty, torturous execution on a cross. Yet I often want to be his follower and have a life of comfort.

I want to do hospitality my way, on my time, around my schedule, with the people that are easy for me to be around, and I want to have a complete set of dishes when I am done. But this just isn’t the life God has called us to. God calls us to not just have hospitable events but to have an open door and hospitable life. Jesus was available for the sick. He fed the hungry crowds when it was inconvenient. He hung out with the drunks, tax collectors, lepers, and sinners. His way of discipleship was dirty and probably smelly.

I have a friend that has modeled this hospitality well and as a result often has men in his home that are so drunk and out of it they sometimes foul their pants. He and his wife have literally cleaned man-poop off their floor. This grosses me out and makes me want to think twice about the people I let into my house, but oddly enough it also inspires me. It looks so much like Jesus. A couple of weeks ago my neighbor’s daughter had a little present slip out of her diaper while they were visiting. We saw the log on the floor, and all of us wondered where it came from. I immediately checked my son’s diaper, and people were diaper checking all around until we found the culprit. I instinctively cleaned up the poop, de-sanitized the floor, and went on with what turned out to be a wonderful evening.

Sometimes discipleship means people are going to poop on your floor. If we are servants like Jesus, we get to clean it up. Jesus modeled this when he washed his disciples feet. At the time, everyone traveled on dirty, smelly roads in sandals and often were hopscotching around camel dung. Washing smelly feet was reserved for slaves, yet Jesus, the master, took the lowliest task and washed his disciples’ feet.

I like my things to stay nice, and I don’t like doing disgusting jobs. But I do want to follow Jesus, and I do want to be his disciple and make disciples.  To do this all the time means I am going to have to do some things I don’t like and lose some things I do like.

So again, if you have a full set of dishes and nobody has ever pooped on your floor, you might want to stop and examine if you are really on God’s mission.